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United States Patent |
5,769,249
|
Lascara
|
June 23, 1998
|
Storage rack beam having rolled, intermediate section with upturned,
deck-supporting edge and with inclined, indicia-receiving surface
Abstract
In a storage rack, in which each of two columns has an outer wall facing
outwardly and a side wall facing the side wall of the other column, a
steel beam including two flange sections and an intermediate section
extends between and is supported by the columns. Being fastened to an
associated column, each flange section has a side plate adjacent to the
side wall of the associated column and an outer flange adjacent to the
outer wall of the associated column. Extending horizontally between the
flange sections, the intermediate section is welded at each of its
opposite ends to the side flange of an associated one of the flange
sections. Being rolled from a steel sheet and defining a downwardly
opening channel profile, the intermediate section has an outer wall, an
inner wall joined unitarily to the outer wall so as to define an upper
edge of the intermediate section, and a lower flange extending inwardly
from a lower portion of the inner wall and having an upturned edge. As
supported by and on the upturned edge of the lower flange of the
intermediate section, a deck is confined against outward movement by the
inner wall of the intermediate section and against side-to-side movement
by the side plates of the flange sections.
Inventors:
|
Lascara; Linda P. (Goodlettsville, TN)
|
Assignee:
|
Unarco Material Handling, Inc. (Springfield, TN)
|
Appl. No.:
|
767197 |
Filed:
|
December 16, 1996 |
Current U.S. Class: |
211/191; 211/182 |
Intern'l Class: |
A47B 057/00 |
Field of Search: |
108/187,107,110
211/182,183,191,189,208
|
References Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
3587483 | Jun., 1971 | Konstant | 211/191.
|
4064996 | Dec., 1977 | Skillum | 211/191.
|
4074812 | Feb., 1978 | Skubic et al. | 211/191.
|
4239100 | Dec., 1980 | Corey | 193/35.
|
5279430 | Jan., 1994 | Benton | 211/151.
|
5350074 | Sep., 1994 | Rosenband | 211/191.
|
5360122 | Nov., 1994 | Benton | 211/151.
|
5368174 | Nov., 1994 | Clark et al. | 211/173.
|
5492231 | Feb., 1996 | Clark | 211/183.
|
Primary Examiner: Cuomo; Peter M.
Assistant Examiner: Anderson; Gerald A.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Rockey, Milnamow, & Katz, Ltd.
Claims
I claim:
1. A storage rack comprising
(a) two columns, each said column having an outer wall facing outwardly and
a side wall facing the side wall of the other column, and
(b) a steel beam extending between and supported by the columns, the beam
including two flange sections and an intermediate section, each flange
section being fastened to an associated one of the columns, each flange
section having a side plate adjacent to the side wall of the associated
one of the columns and an outer flange adjacent to the outer wall of the
associated one of the columns, the intermediate section extending
horizontally between the flange sections, the intermediate section having
two opposite ends and being welded at each of the opposite ends to the
side flange of an associated one of the flange sections, the intermediate
section being rolled from a steel sheet and defining a downwardly opening
channel profile, the intermediate section having an outer wall, an inner
wall being generally vertical and being joined unitarily to the outer wall
so as to define an upper edge of the downwardly opening channel profile,
and a lower flange extending inwardly from a lower portion of the inner
wall, the lower flange having an upturned edge spaced below the upper edge
of the intermediate section,
wherein the upturned edge provides means for supporting a deck on the
upturned edge, between the side plates and behind the inner wall, wherein
the inner wall provides means for confining such a supported deck against
outward movement, and wherein the side plates provide means for confining
such a supported deck against side-to-side movement.
2. The storage rack of claim 1 wherein the outer wall of the intermediate
section is inclined so as to extend downwardly and outwardly and so as to
define an expansive surface facing upwardly and outwardly, the expansive
surface being adapted to receive indicia via labelling or stencilling.
3. The storage rack of claim 2 wherein the outer wall of the intermediate
section has a lower flange extending inwardly from the inclined portion.
4. The storage rack of claim 1 wherein the outer wall of the intermediate
section is inclined so as to extend downwardly and inwardly and so as to
define an expansive surface facing downwardly and outwardly, the expansive
surface being adapted to receive indicia via labelling or stencilling.
5. A storage rack comprising
(a) two columns, each said column having an outer wall facing outwardly and
a side wall facing the side wall of the other column,
(b) a steel beam extending between and supported by the columns, the beam
including two flange sections and an intermediate section, each flange
section being fastened to an associated one of the columns, each flange
section having a side plate adjacent to the side wall of the associated
one of the columns and an outer flange adjacent to the outer wall of the
associated one of the columns, the intermediate section extending
horizontally between the flange sections, the intermediate section having
two opposite ends and being welded at each of the opposite ends to the
side flange of an associated one of the flange sections, the intermediate
section being rolled from a steel sheet and defining a downwardly opening
channel profile, the intermediate section having an outer wall, an inner
wall being generally vertical and being joined unitarily to the outer wall
so as to define an upper edge of the downwardly opening channel profile,
and a lower flange extending inwardly from a lower portion of the inner
wall, the lower flange having an upturned edge spaced below the upper edge
of the intermediate section, and
(c) a deck having an upper surface and a lower surface, the deck being
supported at the lower surface by and on the upturned edge of the lower
flange of the intermediate section, the upper surface being spaced below
the upper edge of the intermediate section, the deck being confined by the
inner wall of the intermediate section, so as to restrict outward movement
of the deck, and by the side plates of the flange sections, so as to
restrict side-to-side movement of the deck.
6. The storage rack of claim 5 wherein the outer wall of the intermediate
section is inclined so as to extend downwardly and outwardly and so as to
define an expansive surface facing upwardly and outwardly, the expansive
surface being adapted to receive indicia via labelling or stencilling.
7. The storage rack of claim 6 wherein the outer wall of the intermediate
section has a lower flange extending inwardly from the inclined portion.
8. The storage rack of claim 5 wherein the outer wall of the intermediate
section is inclined so as to extend downwardly and inwardly and so as to
define an expansive surface facing downwardly and outwardly, the expansive
surface being adapted to receive indicia via labelling or stencilling.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention pertains generally to a support beam for a storage rack and
particularly to a support beam having two flange sections and an
intermediate section. Each flange section has a side plate and an outer
flange. Being welded to the side plates, the intermediate section is
rolled from a steel sheet and defines a downwardly opening channel. If a
deck is supported by and on an upturned edge of a lower flange of the
intermediate section, the deck is confined against outward movement by an
inner wall of the intermediate section and against side-to-side movement
by the side plates. Being adapted to receive indicia via labelling or
stencilling, an outer wall of the intermediate section may be inclined so
as to extend downwardly and outwardly in a preferred embodiment or so as
to extend downwardly and inwardly in an alternative embodiment.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
As exemplified in Clark U.S. Pat. No. 5,368,174, it is known for a support
beam for a storage rack to have a tubular profile, as rolled from a steel
sheet and provided with a welded seam or as rolled from two steel sheets
and provided with two welded seams, and to have two end flanges welded to
the support beam. The tubular profile defines a ledge, which opens
upwardly and inwardly, which has a vertical wall and a horizontal wall,
and which is arranged to support a wooden or steel deck or spaced wooden
or steel braces on the horizontal wall. The vertical wall confines such a
supported deck or such supported braces against outward movement. The end
flanges confine such a supported deck against side-to-side movement. In
some disclosed embodiments, the tubular profile defines an inclined,
indicia-receiving surface.
As exemplified in Benton U.S. Pat. No. 5,279,430, it is known for a front
or rear beam of a storage rack to be rolled from a steel sheet so as to
define a downwardly opening channel profile, which forms a wire track.
Because the wire track extends across at least two adjacent bays, the
front or rear beam is not provided with any end flanges similar to the end
flanges disclosed in Clark U.S. Pat. No. 5,368,174. Rather, the front or
rear beam is secured onto side beams of the storage rack, via
interengaging structures on the front or rear beam and on the side beams.
Roller tracks and lane dividers are secured to the front or rear beam, via
an upturned, lower, notched flange of the front or rear beam.
Storage rack beams of related interest, which are rolled from steel sheets
so as to define open channel profiles and which have notched flanges for
securing roller tracks, are exemplified in Corey U.S. Pat. No. 4,239,100.
This invention has resulted from efforts to provide, for a storage rack, a
beam section that could be effectively rolled from a steel sheet, that
would not require a welded seam extending along the beam section, that
would support a deck, and that could have an inclined, indicia-receiving
surface.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention contemplates that a storage rack comprises two steel columns
and a steel beam. Each such column has an outer wall facing outwardly and
a side wall facing the side wall of the other column. The beam extends
between and is supported by the columns and includes two flange sections
and an intermediate section.
Being fastened to an associated one of the columns, each flange section has
a side plate adjacent to the side wall of the associated column and an
outer plate adjacent to the associated column. Extending horizontally
between the flange sections, the intermediate section is welded at each of
its opposite ends to the side flange of an associated one of the flange
sections.
Being rolled from a steel sheet, the intermediate section has a generally
vertical wall and a lower flange extending inwardly and upwardly from a
lower portion of the inner wall. The lower flange has an, upturned edge
spaced below the upper edge of the intermediate section.
According to this invention, the upturned edge provides means for
supporting a deck on the upturned edge, between the side plates and behind
the generally vertical wall. Moreover, the generally vertical wall
provides means for confining such a supported deck against outward
movement. Furthermore, the side plates provide means for confining such a
supported deck against side-to-side movement.
Preferably, as rolled from a steel sheet, the intermediate section has an
outer wall and an inner wall, which is the generally vertical wall and
which is joined unitarily to the outer wall so as to define the upper edge
of the intermediate section.
Preferably, the outer wall of the intermediate section is inclined so as to
extend downwardly and outwardly and so as to define an expansive surface
facing upwardly and outwardly. The expansive surface is adapted to receive
indicia via labelling or stencilling. The outer wall of the intermediate
section may have a lower flange extending inwardly from the inclined
portion.
Alternatively, the outer wall of the intermediate section is inclined so as
to extend downwardly and inwardly and so as to define an expansive surface
facing downwardly and outwardly. The expansive surface is adapted to
receive indicia via labelling or stencilling.
These and other objects, features, and advantages of this invention are
evident from the following description of a preferred embodiment of this
invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, perspective view of a front column, one flange
structure of a support beam, an intermediate structure of the support
beam, and a wooden deck, as utilized in a storage rack constituting a
preferred embodiment of this invention.
FIG. 2, on a smaller scale, is a top plan of the support beam shown in FIG.
1. Two front columns, one being the front column shown in FIG. 1, are
shown in broken lines.
FIG. 3, on a similar scale, is a front elevation of the support beam shown
in FIGS. 1 and 2.
FIG. 4, on a similar scale, is a sectional view taken along line 4--4 of
FIG. 2, in a direction indicated by arrows. The front column shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2 and a rear column of the storage rack are shown in broken
lines.
FIG. 5, on a larger scale compared to FIG. 1, is a fragmentary detail taken
from FIG. 4.
FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, perspective view of a front column, one flange
structure of a support beam, an intermediate structure of the support
beam, and a wooden deck, as utilized in a storage rack constituting an
alternative embodiment of this invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
As shown fragmentarily in FIGS. 1 through 5, a storage rack 10 constituting
a preferred embodiment of this invention comprises, at a front region that
faces an aisle, two steel columns 20 and a steel beam 30, which extends
between and is supported by the columns 20. Each column 20 is box-like in
cross-section and has an outer wall 22 facing outwardly, a side wall 24
facing the side wall 24 of the other column 20, and a side wall (not
shown) facing oppositely. The outer wall 22 of each column 20 has two
vertical arrays of similar, regularly spaced, modified keyhole-shaped,
apertures 26. Each aperture 26 is wider at an upper region of such
aperture 26 and narrower at a lower region of such aperture 26.
The columns 20 are disposed at two opposite sides of a bay, which may be
one of multiple bays of the storage rack 10 and which may have multiple
tiers, and the beam 30 is disposed at a front edge of such a tier. As
shown in FIG. 4, the storage rack 10 comprises, at a rear region that also
may face an aisle, two similar columns 40 (one shown) disposed at the
opposite sides of the same bay and a similar beam 40 disposed at the rear
edge of the same tier. The columns 20, 40, are similar to columns known
heretofore, as employed in storage racks available commercially from
Unarco Material Handling, Inc. of Springfield, Tenn.
The steel beam 30 includes two flange sections 50 and an intermediate
section 60. Being fastened to an associated column 20, 40, each flange
section 50 has a side plate 52 and an outer flange 54 unitary with the
side plate 52, the side plate 52 being adjacent to and partially covering
the side wall 24 of the associated column 20, 40, and the outer flange 54
being adjacent to and partially covering the outer wall 22 of the
associated column 20, 40.
Preferably, each flange section 50 is connected to the associated column
20, 40, by a connecting pin 56 and is latched thereto by a latching pin
58, as disclosed in an allowed, commonly owned application, U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 08/405,509, which was filed on Mar. 16, 1995, now
U.S. Pat. No. 5,624,045 and the disclosure of which is incorporated herein
by reference. Alternatively, each flange section 50 is fastened to the
associated column 20, 40, in any other manner known heretofore for
fastening a flange section of a front or rear beam to a column in a
storage rack, possibly by wedge connectors (not shown) of a type disclosed
in Klein U.S. Pat. No. 4,712,696 or of a type disclosed in Klein U.S. Pat.
No. 4,741,445 or by connector bolts (not shown) of a type disclosed in
Highsmith U.S. Pat. No. 4,496,061 or of a type disclosed in Klein U.S.
Pat. No. 5,020,678.
The intermediate section 60 is rolled from a steel sheet and defines a
downwardly opening channel profile without a welded seam extending along
the intermediate section 60. As shown in cross-section in FIG. 5, the
intermediate section 60 has an outer wall 62, which has a lower flange 64
extending inwardly, an inner wall 66, which is generally vertical and
which is joined unitarily with the outer wall 62 so as to define an upper
edge 68 of the downwardly opening channel profile, and a lower flange 70,
which extends inwardly and upwardly from a lower portion of the inner wall
66. The lower flange 70 has an upturned edge 72, which is spaced below the
upper edge 68 and which is continuous along the intermediate section 60,
between the flange sections 50.
The storage rack 10 also comprises a deck 80, which may be flat-bottomed
and which is supported on the upturned edge 72 of the lower flange 70,
between the side plates 52 and behind the inner wall 66. The inner wall 66
provides means for confining the deck 80 against outward movement. The
side plates 52 provide means for confining the deck 80 against
side-to-side movement.
As shown in FIGS. 1 through 5, the deck 80 is comprised of wooden boards 82
(e.g. so-called "two-by-fours") laid in side-by-side relation to one
another, so that each of the sidemost boards 82 is close to a nearer one
of the side plates 52. Alternatively, the deck 80 is a plywood or
presswood sheet, a resin deck, a sheet of expanded steel, a sheet of
so-called "V-deck", which is a type of steel deck used in storage rack
systems, or the deck 80 may be a welded mesh or grid of steel wires, of
steel strips, or of steel wires and steel strips, which mesh or grid may
lap over the upturned edge and hook into the gap between the upturned edge
72 and the inner wall 66.
As shown in FIGS. 1 through 5, the outer wall 62 of the intermediate
section 60 is inclined at an angle .beta. in a range from about 20.degree.
to about 70.degree. relative to a horizontal plane, so as to extend
downwardly and outwardly from the upper edge 68 of the intermediate
section 60 and so as to define an expansive surface 90 facing upwardly and
outwardly at a complementary angle relative to a horizontal plane.
Preferably, the outer wall 62 is inclined at an angle .beta. of about
60.degree. relative to a horizontal plane, as shown.
As shown in FIG. 6, in an alternative embodiment of this invention, the
lower flange 64 of the preferred embodiment is eliminated. Moreover, the
outer wall 62 of the intermediate section 60 is inclined at an angle in a
range from about 20.degree. to about 70.degree. relative to a horizontal
plane, so as to extend downwardly and inwardly from the upper edge 68 of
the intermediate section 60 and so as to define an expansive surface 90
facing downwardly and outwardly at a complementary angle relative to a,
horizontal plane.
In either of the preferred and alternative embodiments, the expansive
surface 90 defined by the outer wall 62 of the intermediate section 60 is
adapted to receive indicia, such as alphanumerics and bar codes, via
labelling or stencilling. In the preferred embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1,
and in the alternative embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, a label 100
displaying alphanumerics and a bar code is applied adhesively to the
expansive surface 90.
In the preferred embodiment, which is useful especially at levels below eye
level, and in the alternative embodiment, which is useful especially at
levels above eye level, indicia on the label 100 can be easily read by a
person standing near the storage rack 10. He or she has a line-of-sight
that may be perpendicular to the label 100, whereas he or she would have a
line-of-sight that would be oblique to a label on a vertical surface above
or below eye level for him or her.
Various modifications may be made to the preferred and alternative
embodiments described above without departing from the scope and spirit of
this invention.
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